Monday, May 12, 2014

An ambush staged by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fightersin Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao left a soldier dead and four others wounded on Monday morning.

According to Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army 6th Infantry Division, 20 BIFF men detonated improvised bombs as a convoy carrying Col. Jener Del Rosario – commander of the 1st Mechanized Brigade – crossed a bridge in Barangay Meta at 10:30 a.m. The detonations "heavy exchanges of fire", Hermoso said.Del Rosario was not hurt in the fighting that followed.

The 45th Infantry Battalion sent reinforcements and are pursuing the BIFF fighters, Hermoso said.

The BIFF, a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has been blamed a string of attacks in Central Mindanao over the past several days, including the harassment of two Army detachments in Datu Unsay town last Tuesday.

From GMA News (May 13): DND exec: Any part of PHL can become ‘agreed location’ under EDCA

Any part of the Philippines can become an
"agreed location" that US troops can access under the new defense
agreement between the two countries, a Department of National Defense (DND)
official told a Senate hearing Tuesday.

DND Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino, chairman of the Philippine panel which negotiated the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), said the pact "provides flexibility" to the Armed Forces of the Philippines in determining the locations to be shared with US troops.

"We expect that this will not be automatic. This will undergo a long series of talks before it is agreed that an installation will be established," Batino told the Senate committees on national defense and foreign relations.

He added that the Philippine panel wants "as few agreed locations as possible," and that these locations should promote maritime security.

For his part, Ambassador Eduardo Malaya, another member of the EDCA panel, said that agreed locations which will be made available for rotational presence of US troops will be "only those that will promote national interest."

"What we are envisioning in agreed locations is not permanent presence but temporary, rotational presence... There is no exclusivity in use for the US," Malaya told senators during the hearing.

No limitations

Before US President Barack Obama's arrival in Manila two weeks ago, Philippine and American officials signed the EDCA, which will allow an enlarged rotational presence of American troops in the country. The new defense pact is effective for 10 years.

Under the EDCA, the Philippines authorizes US forces to train, refuel aircraft and preposition their supplies within Philippine territory, in locations that have yet to be specified by both parties.

But Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. raised questions regarding the lack of parameters in EDCA on what can be turned into an agreed location for US troops.

"As it stands, there are no guidelines on what will be agreed locations... Lugi tayo sa usapan," Marcos told members of the EDCA negotiating panel.

He added that the provision in the pact that limits agreed locations to those that promote maritime security seems all-encompassing, since the Philippines is an archipelago.

Marcos further said that the Senate will "anxiously wait" while members of the Philippine panel negotiate with their American counterparts on the access of US troops to certain locations.

A joint team of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Investigation seized high-powered firearms and detonating devices in a raid on a three-storey buiding in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur, Monday.

Arrested during the raid was Hadji Cader Sarongsong, the alleged operator of the illegal manufacture of firearms and ammunitions in the building, which is in a residential area.

The raid was conducted past 12 p.m., and followed two months of surveillance operations in the area.

Authorities found 10 high-powered firearms, including an M-16 assault rifle, a .50-caliber sniper rifle, an M-60 rifle grenade and a M-79 grenade launcher. Authorities also seized a detonating device and other equipment used to manufacture firearms.

In an interview with GMA News' “24 Oras”, Sarongsong admitted he was manufacturing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) for some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Treason charges are being prepared by various groups led by Bayan Muna in connection with the recent forging of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the United States and the Philippines.

Former Bayan Muna partylist Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño disclosed this during a recent forum at the Balitaan sa Hotel Rembrandt in Quezon City.

He said lawyers of Bayan Muna and various organizations opposed to EDCA are already comparing notes and are in fact seriously looking to file before the Supreme Court charges of treason against those responsible for the agreement.

Casiño said they will seek the audience of SC because the Senate has yet to do something to investigate the matter when in fact there are glaring provisions in EDCA, 11 in all, that violated the Constitution of the land.

“Eleven provisions of EDCA are unconstitutional, but the Senate seemed not interested in looking into it,” Casiño said.

Not only the Constitution has been violated by the said agreement, which was not even a treaty, but also the Local Government Code and the National Telecommunications Laws, he added.

The militant leader said the EDCA provisions not only favored the US government and its forces in terms of using the bases in the country, but they have total control of the facilities they will build and the Philippine government has limited access to it.

Casiño said even private facilities if the US forces see the need for it can be utilized unhampered.

The basing of the foreign government is way beyond the control of the Philippine government because they have all the operational and use of the said facilities.

The proponents of the EDCA, particularly Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, are not interested in bringing the agreement to the Senate for scrutiny because they know the unconstitutionality of the provision can be seen.

“Basically many provisions are violative of Philippine laws and the people are not aware that the US has all the control and supervision of all the facilities they will build,” Casiño said.

To make matters worse, Casiño said the EDCA, which was supposed to be the basis by the Philippine government to be the framework of support in the event foreign incursions occur, is silent on some issues, particularly the Chinese incursion in West Philippine Sea.

Because of this, Casiño said his group will definitely petition the SC to protect the sovereignty of the country.

From the Business Mirror (May 11): Human-rights groups to probe militarization in Davao, Cotabato

REPRESENTATIVES of various national people’s organizations, progressive party-list organizations and human-rights groups on Sunday flew to Davao City to join other human-rights workers and peace advocates in Mindanao to investigate alleged rights abuses committed by the military against peasants and indigenous peoples in Davao and Cotabato provinces.

The National Solidarity Mission was formed because of the adverse impact of the massive military operation and inaction of local and regional government, said a joint statement of the Mindanao-based Exodus for Justice and Peace, Defend Talaingod Save Pantaron Range Alliance, Defend Compostela Valley Alliance, Save our Schools, Sowing Seeds of Peace in Mindanao, Pasaka, Bayan-SMR, and Karapatan-Southern Mindanao Region.

The group is blaming “Oplan Bayanihan,” the direct effect in Mindanao of which is the deployment of five divisions, about 60 percent of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the statement said.

“The towns and villages where the AFP conducts its operations are the same towns and villages with the most reported cases of human-rights violations,” the statement said.

Of the 192 cases of extrajudicial killings under the current Aquino administration, 25 occurred in Southern Mindanao where the Davao provinces belong to, organizers of the National Solidarity Mission said.

They said that on April 3, some 1,353 Talaingod-Manobo, mostly children under 12 years old, arrived in Davao City after a six-day trek from their ancestral lands in the Pantaron mountains in Davao del Norte, fleeing from conflict areas.

The children complained of abuses, threats and harassments, bombings and indiscriminate firing by the soldiers from the 60th Infantry Battalion (IB), 68th IB of 1003rd Brigade, and 4th Special Forces, the statement said.

After a dialogue with Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, Talaingod Mayor Basilio Libayao, and AFP Gen. Ariel Bernardo, the Talaingod-Manobo agreed to go back to their lands once the military pulls out from their communities.

The AFP agreed to suspend its operation in Talaingod for the return of the evacuees, but only for two days.

“Oplan Bayanihan’s military operation in the Davao region has resulted in the displacement of peasants and indigenous peoples, and gross human-rights violations committed against them,” said the Mindanao human rights and peace advocates’ organizations.

Aside from going to Talaingod, Davao del Norte, the NSM also visited the communities in Magpet, Arakan, North Cotabato; Maco, Compostella Valley; and Paquibato, Davao City.

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 12): Cop killed, another wounded in NPA ambush in PalawanPUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—A policeman was killed and another was wounded in an ambush perpetrated by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in the village of Tagusao, Quezon, Palawan on Monday.

The fatality was identified by authorities as PO3 Roniel Paduga. The wounded policeman, identified only in the initial police report as PO3
Atrero, was airlifted to a hospital here to undergo medication.

The Palawan police chief, Superintendent David Martinez, said the victim was with two other policemen on Monday morning to serve an arrest warrant in Barangay Tagusao when fired upon by an estimated group of about 10-15 armed men.

From the Manila Times (May 12): ASEAN fires warning shot across China’s bows

Asian leaders have expressed “serious concern” over worsening territorial disputes in the South China Sea, presenting a rare united front against an increasingly assertive Beijing.

Vietnam and the Philippines led a successful push for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to deliver a thinly-veiled rebuke to China over the standoff in waters home to key shipping lanes and thought to contain huge energy reserves.

The 10-nation bloc, in a statement released on Monday, called for a peaceful resolution to the maritime rows, which flared up this month after China moved an oil drilling rig into waters also claimed by Hanoi.

“We expressed serious concerns over the ongoing developments in the South China Sea,” said the joint statement from Sunday’s summit in Myanmar, without explicitly pointing the finger at Beijing.

ASEAN called on all parties involved to “exercise self-restraint, not to resort to threat(s) or use of force, and to resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law”.

Observers said the statement marked a change of tone by the regional bloc, many of whose members—including Myanmar—have close economic and political ties with China and have traditionally avoided confrontation with the Asian heavyweight.

In 2012 China’s ally Cambodia caused consternation when it was ASEAN head by refusing to take Beijing to task over its assertive maritime stance.

“This is a far cry from when Cambodia was ASEAN chair,” said Southeast Asia expert Carl Thayer.

The statement “represents a slight tightening of ASEAN’s position,” he said, adding it suggests a rare level of “consensus” on the vexed sea rights issue.

“The statement is so nuanced that it will not offend China but ASEAN leaders are making it clear that they all share a common concern,” said Thayer, a professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia.There was no immediate response from Beijing.

Under Brunei’s chairmanship last year, China avoided a public rebuke from ASEAN at a major summit in the oil-flush sultanate after Beijing offered an olive branch by calling for peace in the flashpoint region.

Prominent Vietnamese political commentator Nguyen Quang A described the ASEAN declaration as a “big positive” for his country.

Vietnam lobbied energetically at the latest meeting in Myanmar for a strong statement on the maritime issue from its neighbours.

“This is the first time China brazenly brings and installs its drilling rig deep into the continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of an ASEAN country, which gravely violates the international law,” he said, according to an official transcript of his speech.

The spat triggered large anti-China protests in Vietnam at the weekend that appeared to have the tacit blessing of the authoritarian communist regime in Hanoi, which usually limits expression of public discontent.

The demonstrations received unprecedented coverage in Vietnam’s tightly-controlled state media on Monday.

Analyst Quang A said more rallies were likely unless Beijing removes the drilling rig.

“Our fate is that we are situated here, with a big neighbour who always wants expansion,” he said.

China and Vietnam fought a brief border war in 1979 and the pair frequently trade diplomatic barbs over oil exploration, fishing rights and the contested Spratly and Paracel Islands.

China asserts ownership over almost all of the South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia as well as Taiwan.

Manila, which has asked a UN tribunal to rule on China’s claims over most of the sea, also said last Wednesday it had detained a Chinese fishing boat in disputed territory.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino told reporters after Sunday’s summit said that “many leaders” at the summit had voiced concern about the South China Sea spats, which he said were a “cause for worry and concern by all parties.”

The other ASEAN members are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand.

On May 6, 2014, the Piksalabukam Bansa Subanen (PBS) spearheaded advocacy program on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) held at at Malubai, RT Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay in support to the public engagement activities of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).

The public consultation was undertaken in collaboration with Mindanao Civil Society Organizations Platform for Peace (MCSOPP) funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) attended by 150 participants from Zamboanga peninsula belonging to the Subanen and Kalibugan ethnic tribes.

The consultation seeks to enlighten and educate the indigenous peoples (IPs) on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels on March 27, 2014 and seek the support of the IP’s in urging the Philippine Congress to fast track the deliberation and enactment of the BBL.

Timuay Fernando “Nanding” Mudai, a tribal leader described the event as good and timely because the doubts and confusions of the IPs on the issue of BBL and the CAB were satisfactorily answered by Datu Antonio Kinoc of B’laan and Timuay Melanio Ulama of Teduray tribe who were invited as resource speakers.

“We (IPs) are enlightened about the contents of the BBL and the CAB. And there’s nothing to worry about.” he said.

He also expressed his support to the future Bangsamoro government. He said that the Bangsamoro government is not separate from the Philippine Republic and it’s eventual establishment is a great challenge for those who will be in the helm of leadership to look into the needs and demands of their constituents.

He stressed that, “It’s better to join the Bangsamoro Government rather than with the present set-up because IP’s concerns and problems are not fully addressed. The politicians only need them during election time.”

He also called on the present politicians to be righteous and fair to their constituents regardless of their economic and social status.

“Usually poor people experienced injustice and have less access to government services. We better accept the Bangsamoro government than to stay in the current set-up. ” he said

Datu Antonio Kinoc, an alternate member of the MILF peace panel appreciated the leadership of Timuay Fernando “Nanding” Mudai.

“The leadership of Timuay Fernando “Nanding” Mudai is very receptive of the idea of the Bangsamoro and they wish to be part of the territory.” Kinoc said

“We would like to conduct more of the same information drive to feel the pulse of people residing inside and outside of the Bangsamoro core territory.” he added.

“It’s imperative that we shall continue to engage the IPs in the ground in every way possible to diffuse the wrong information put forward by our detractors.” Datu Kinoc explained.

The
Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday filed a case for violation of the
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 before the PuertoPrincesaCity,
Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) against nine of the 11 Chinese poachers
arrested off Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) in disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea.

Palawan
Provincial Prosecutor Allen Roz Rodriguez said that the case against the two
Chinese poachers were dismissed because they are minors.

"We
turned them (two minors) over to the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and
DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for their
repatriation," Rodriguez said.

The
nine Chinese poachers are facing a case for violation of Section 87, or
"poaching in Philippine waters", and Section 97, or "fishing or taking
of rare, threatened or endangered species", of the Philippine Fisheries
Code of 1998.

Rodriguez
said that they gave the nine poachers a public lawyer to represent them but the
accused refused insisting that they did nothing wrong because they are fishing
in Chinese waters.

He
said that he tried to convince a Chinese consul who assisted the nine poachers
to be represented by the public lawyer but the official also refused.

"Still,
the public lawyer stayed while we are conducting the inquest proceedings,"
Rodriguez said.

The
DOJ recommended a bail of Php 30,000 each of the nine accused for violation of
Section 87 and Php 40,000 each for Section 97 of the Philippine Fisheries Code
of 1998.

Not
many people are aware of its but the Fairchild Republic A-10 "Thunderbolt
II", the United States Air Force's premier ground and tank attack
aircraft, is participating in the aerial phase of this year's
"Balikatan" exercises.

The
pilots are protected by titanium armor that also protects parts of the
flight-control system.

The
redundant primary structural sections allow the aircraft to enjoy better
survivability during close air support than did previous aircraft.

The
A-10 can survive direct hits from armor-piercing and high explosive projectiles
up to 23mm.

Their
self-sealing fuel cells are protected by internal and external foam.

Manual
systems back up their redundant hydraulic flight-control systems. This permits
pilots to fly and land when hydraulic power is lost.

The
A-10 has received many upgrades over the years. In 1978, the aircraft received
the "Pave Penny" laser receiver pod, which sensed reflected laser
radiation from a laser designator.

"Pave
Penney" has now been discontinued in favor more capable advanced targeting
pods.

The
A-10 began receiving an inertial navigation system in 1980.

Later,
the low-altitude safety and targeting enhancement (LASTE) upgrade provided
computerized weapon-aiming equipment, an autopilot, and a ground-collision
warning system. In 1999, aircraft began to receive global positioning system
navigation systems and a new multi-function display.

American
and Filipino troopers participating in this year's "Balikatan"
maneuvers, conducted gunnery and firing exercises at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva
Ecija last May 10.

Belated
reports from Capt. Mark Anthony Ruelos, 7th Infantry Division spokesperson,
said that the activity is a major training operation for "Balikatan
2014".

Troops
participating in these maneuvers were equipped with V-150 "Commando"
and "Simba" AFV.

These
vehicles were fitted with .50 caliber weapons which soldiers from both nations
fired to increase their weapons proficiency.

He
added that Filipino troopers were from the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion
while the Americans are from the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment.

The
Filipino unit was headed 1st Lt. Dominador Tagorda while the Americans were
commanded by Capt. Capt. John Healy.

Ruelos
said that the first days of "Balikatan 2014" was allocated for
training of basic tasks and exercises such as action drills, mounted battle
drills, and a small exercise called mounted sticks – in which troops conduct a
movement after they received an order.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 12): ASEAN leaders agree to strengthen cooperation for implementation of declaration on the conduct of parties in South China sea

Leaders
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pledged on Sunday to
enhance cooperation for the full implementation of the Declaration on the
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) at the end of the two-day
summit.

The
ASEAN leaders, including President Benigno S. Aquino III, concluded the 24th
ASEAN Summit by adopting the Nay Pyi Taw Declaration on Realization of the
ASEAN Community by 2015 on Sunday afternoon.

The
leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation for the full and effective
implementation of the DOC in accordance with universally recognized principles
of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea or UNCLOS.

They
also called on all parties to “exercise self-restraint and non-use of force, as
well as refrain from taking actions that would further escalate tension and to
work towards an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
as reflected in the ASEAN’s Six-Point Principles on the South
China Sea.”

On
Saturday, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers issued a statement expressing serious
concern over the ongoing developments in the South China
Sea, which have increased tensions in the area.

They
urged all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and to resolve disputes
by peaceful means and without resorting to threats or use of force. They also
called on all parties to undertake full and effective implementation of the
DOC.

"Moving
Forward in Unity to A Peaceful and Prosperous Community" was the theme of this
year’s summit. Myanmar
hosted the ASEAN Summit for the first time since it joined the bloc in 1997.

From the Philippine News Agency (May 12): President Aquino informs ASEAN member states of 'memorial' filed against China

President
Benigno S. Aquino III has informed leaders of member nations of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that the Philippines has filed a
"Memorial" at the United Nations arbitral tribunal against China’s
claims over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The
Philippines on March 30
submitted its Memorial to the Arbitral Tribunal that is hearing the case it
brought against the People’s Republic of China under the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea in January 2013.

During
the coffee meeting with members of the Philippine media covering the 24th ASEAN
Summit here Sunday, President Aquino said many of the ASEAN leaders have
expressed concern over the ongoing tensions in the West
Philippine Sea.

The
President said the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung, recounted their
problems with China, which
has stationed an oil rig in disputed waters off the coast of Vietnam.

President
Aquino said he mentioned to his fellow ASEAN leaders the Philippines’ own incidents with China during
the 24th ASEAN Leaders’ Retreat Session.

“I
put in, during the Retreat, our own incidents with regards to Ayungin,
Scarborough, the Kalayaan Island group, the construction on Mabini Reef and the
Galoc oil contract—service contract area,” the President said.

“Then
we did mention that consistent with everybody’s desire to resolve it in a
peaceful manner, we did inform them officially of the March filing of the
memorial before the arbitration tribunal under International Tribunal for the
Law of the Sea,” he added.

On
Saturday, the ASEAN foreign ministers issued a statement expressing “serious
concern over the ongoing developments in the South China
Sea,” and urged all parties to exercise self-restraint and to
resolve disputes by peaceful means.

They
also called on all parties to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to undertake full and effective
implementation of the DOC to create an environment of mutual trust and
confidence.

The
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday will hold a recognition
ceremony for its partner institutions, benefactors and its grantees under the
AFP Educational Benefit System (AFPEBS).

This
will take place at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club around 3:00 p.m. with Lt.
Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP chief-of-staff, invited as keynote speaker.

Dubbed
as “Bayanihan for Education 2014,” this annual event is held to recognize the
role of the individuals and institutions that have been supporting the education
of our soldiers’ dependents and to further develop their partnership with the
AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO).

Moreover
the Student Achievement Recognition System (StARS) honors grantees that
excelled in their academics, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Zagala
said this stakeholders’ recognition event highlights the key contributions of
individuals and partners to the academic success of its beneficiaries, which is
in line with the AFPEBSO's commitment of “Leaving No Soldiers' Orphan Behind”.

The
AFPEBSO has been providing education assistance to dependents of military
personnel, mostly battle casualties for more than a decade and is presently
under the leadership of Lt. Col. Danilo E. Estrañero.

Educational
programs in the AFPEBSO include law-mandated programs, and those by virtue of
partnerships with educational, government, socio-civic and financial
institutions.

Among
the 4,428 grantees supported through 279 programs of the organization, 29 grantees
under the StARS will be recognized in the event, including two magna cum laude
graduates, and seven cum laude graduates.

Furthermore
this event is expected to raise the morale and welfare of AFP personnel by
providing their dependents with educational assistance.

This
also proves that the AFPEBSO continues to be an effective instrument in helping
the families of AFP personnel to secure a better future for their children.​

From the Philippine News Agency (May 12): Army redeploying one of its Maguindanao-based battalions to Compostela Valley

Due
to improving peace and order situation in Maguindanao, the Philippine Army will
be redeploying one of the battalions stationed in the area to CompostelaValley,
according to 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Col. Dickson Hermoso.

He
said that the redeployment is made possible as the government's peace pact with
the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) seems to be holding.

“That’s
one of the reasons. There’s already a relative peace here except for the
intermittent incidents,” Hermoso added in Filipino.

The
6th Infantry Division spokesperson is referring to sporadic harassment attacks
perpetuated by members of the "Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters"
(BIFF), the group that broke away from the MILF.

“There’s
also the exigency and the need… there are other areas around the country
wherein the additional presence of Army troops is needed,” Hermoso said.

Ranking
military leaders have ordered the transfer of the 46th Infantry Battalion to CompostelaValley,
detaching it from the operational control of the 6th Infantry Division and
putting it under the control of the 10th Infantry Division, which is based in CompostelaValley.

The
46th Infantry battalion is currently based at CampWaray,
Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

President
Benigno S. Aquino III has expressed confidence that the Enhanced Defense
Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) will withstand legal scrutiny in the Supreme
Court.

In
an interview with the Philippine media after attending the 24th Association of
Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Summit
here Sunday, President Aquino said the government panel had made sure that the
provisions of the EDCA are in accordance with the Constitution.

"Consistently,
when they were reporting to me, we kept on working on fine-tuning it to make
sure that it adheres completely with the Constitution," the President said
during the interview at the Horizon Lake View Resort before returning to
Manila.

The
President said that while there are people who will try to derail the
implementation of the agreement, he is still optimistic that it will pass the
court's scrutiny.

"So
will it stand scrutiny? Yes. Will there be people who will try to derail it?
Yes, also. But we are reasonably confident that anybody looking at it
objectively will be able to say that we have met all the stipulations in the
Constitution," he said.

The
EDCA was signed by Philippine and US
government officials hours before US President Barack Obama arrived in the Philippines
last May 28 for a two-day state visit.

The
agreement allows US
troops greater access to designated Philippine military facilities, as well as
construct facilities and pre-position aircraft, vessels and equipment.

In
a recent press briefing in Malacanang, Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo
Batino said the EDCA is an implementing agreement of treaties already
established between the US
and the Philippines,
such as the Mutual Defense Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Former
Philippine Navy flag officer-in-command (FOIC) Alexander Pama formally assumed
his new post on Monday as executive director of the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) during a simple turnover ceremony
held at CampAguinaldo,
Quezon City.

The
Department of National Defense (DND) said Pama was chosen among a short list of
contenders for the NDRRMC post "based on his experience with the defense
department and with the armed forces."

Pama,
a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1979, served as Navy
chief until his retirement on Dec. 21, 2012.

It
was under Pama’s watch when the Navy acquired from the United States its first
Hamilton-class cutter, the former USCGC Hamilton, which has been renamed BRP
Gregorio Del Pilar and commissioned into the Philippine Navy amid tensions in
the West Philippine Sea.

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 11): Army discovers human skeleton in Bukidnon

SOUTH POBLACION, MARAMAG, Bukidnon — The army’s combat troops discovered a human skeleton in an abandoned camp of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bukidnon on Tuesday, May 6, morning.

Lt. Col. Jose Leonard Gille, spokesperson of the army’s 4th Infantry Division said the patrolling military led by Cpt. Jojo L. Mascarinas of the 23rd Infantry “Masigasig” Battalion (23IB) discovered the human skeleton in an abandoned NPA campground at the foot of Mt. Kitanglad in the farming sub-village of Lirongan, Talakag, Bukidnon.

After a thorough search in the area, the troops found a human skeleton wearing rain boots (botas) with civilian headgear, basketball jersey and empty shells of caliber 5.56mm M16 rifle next to the skeleton, Gille said.

“The unidentified human skeleton was believed to be a member of Guerilla Front Committee 68 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee who was part of the group encountered by the 8IB troops in Basak, Lantapan, Bukidnon last March 2014,” he said.

Lt. Col. Lynart D. Castisimo, Commanding Officer of the 23IB said the communist rebels must have killed their wounded comrade who was a burden as they fled at the height of the military pursuit operations.

He said this is a clear manifestation that the New People’s Army has no concern or respect with their fallen comrades.

“The troops brought the human skeleton and his other belongings to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon and will be turned-over to PNP's Scence-of-the-crime operatives (SOCO) for examination and proper disposition,” Castisimo said.

Meanwhile, Gille said a decent burial will be afforded to the discovered skeletal remains after possible identification and all other protocols done.

Aside from interoperability between the Philippines and US troops, the Balikatan war games also improve the capability of Filipino troops

Two days since
the Philippines and US
Marines conducted a mock boat raid near
the disputed Panatag Shoal (Scarborough), the
Filipinos tried it on their own while the US Marines watched.

The activty for
the Balikatan 2014 war games was held just a little farther from the shoal ­–
in a Marine base in Ternate, Cavite
– but this time with deafening live fire. The exercises are meant to improve
the interoperability between the 2 militaries bound by the Mutual Defense
Treaty (MDT) to defend each other should the need arise.

The scenario
involved the supposed presence of about 30 enemies camped in one of the coves
there. One enemy group camped by the shore and another by the hills above them.

Their mission:
launch a stealth attack that will prevent the two enemy groups from reinforcing
each other.

Two Small Unit
Riverrine Craft (SURC) donated by the US rushed to the shore of a nearby
cove allowing the Filipino marines to make a stealthy landing. While the
Marines climbed the hill separating the two coves, a 3rd SURC
stormed the enemy encampment.

As the SURC’s M50 caliber machine guns fired at enemies camped in the hills
about 800 meters away, snipers started shooting from the hills, and the Marines
reached the shoreline and started shooting at the enemies at close range.

As they
presumably finished them off, two SURCs returned to extract them from the
combat zone.

Successful
exercises

“Based on our
evaluation, the operation was successful,” said Captain Charlie Domingo of the
Marine Corps Training Center.

Domingo
explained: “The integration of the Fleet (SURC) and the Marine forces was
successful. Both executed the plan and the maneuvers based on the plan of the
Fleet and Marine planners.”

Sergeant Matthew
Luckey of the US
Marines

US Marines Sergeant Matthew Luckey echoed Domingo's assessment of the war
games.

“The exercises
are very successful. Fire Suppression was good. They had good security. They
were able to take the objective and extract successfully,” he told the media.

For the US
Marines, Luckey said the exercises allowed them to see how their boats and the
Filipino boats can work together. “It’s good for interoperability of forces and
building camaraderie between Philippines
and American forces,” he said.

“It’s good to
work with the Filipino marines, just to see the similarities we have operating
with them and how our training is very similar,” he added.

Balikatan,
literally shoulder-to-shoulder, is a regular training exercises between the
Filipino and American troops. The newly signed Enhanced Defense Cooperation
Agreement (EDCA) further expands the military ties to include new activities
such as prepositioning of defense equipment and construction of facilities
inside bases.

“While the Constitution prohibits them from joining us into a war, the
importance of this is the combined operation which might come later on during
invasion, war, or rebellion,” said Parreño.

Under the Mutual
Defense Treaty, the US and
the Philippines
are obligated to help each other in case of, among others, external attacks.

Anti-terror
drive, too

Aside from
interoperability, Domingo said the exercises also improve the capability of the
Filipino troops. (Read about the land exercises in FortMagsaysayhere)

“It is not all
the time that we operate jointly. In this mission, it was mostly our own forces
that executed the plan. The Fleet-Marine team was validated in this exercise,”
Domingo said.

It was good
practice involving the newly acquired riverine crafts that the US donated last
year. These assets are also meant for the country’s anti-terror drive.

“We are an
archipelagic country. Most of the enemies of government as far as Internal
Security Operations is concerned are in southern Philippines. The terrain is
similar. The exercises are very applicable in projecting power from the sea. We
need to develop and rehearse our amphibious operations,” Domingo said.

From Rappler (May 12): Aquino: I didn't ask ASEAN for arbitration support

But the Philippine president says he is satisfied with the statement made by ASEAN supporting the resolution of disputes through peaceful means
President Benigno Aquino III informed his fellow leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) about the Philippines' move to file a memorial against China before the tribunal for the law of the sea, but said he did not specifically ask for support for arbitration.

"We did mention that, consistent with everybody’s desire to resolve it in a peaceful manner, we did inform them officially of the March filing of the memorial before the arbitration tribunal under ITLOS (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea)," he told reporters in Myanmar on Sunday, May 11.

"I don't think there's any disagreement that there really is – in this current incident, or series of incidents – a cause for worry and concern by all parties," he said.

The Philippines and China are embroiled in a maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Other ASEAN countries – like Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei – are also claimants of territories in the South China Sea.

Aquino said he also discussed the Philippines' experience with China with regards to incidents at Ayungin Shoal, Scarborough Shoal, the Kalayaan Island Group, and the construction on Mabini Reef and the Galoc service contract area.

He said the "point was very well taken" as seen in the statement agreed upon by every single member in ASEAN, which he said "is not the easiest thing to do."

"So I don’t see anything lacking within this particular statement," he said.Observers say the statement marks a change of tone by the regional bloc, many of whose members have close economic and political ties with China.Surging maritime tensions dominated the meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, just days after both Vietnam and the Philippines locked horns with China in contested waters, stoking international alarm.

Marked change
Aquino refused to say what message he thinks China is sending with its recent aggression, but conceded there have been marked changes in the way the superpower has been dealing with its neighbors.

He said Vietnam shared its failed efforts in trying to reach out to China through various channels, despite an agreement on party-to-party relations that guaranteed there would always be channels by which they could communicate with each other.

"So that in itself the inability to be able to talk directly with their counterparts is another point that I think should be of concern. It seems to mark a change," Aquino said.

"Well, of course, this whole incident is a change and then the other ancillary acts seems to indicate further changes and one has to wonder exactly to what extent will the changes amount to – how far will they go."

Aquino admitted he is concerned about similar behavior from China toward the Philippines in disputed areas.

Aquino said it may not deter China from making a similar move in Philippine waters, but "at the very least, it will be a factor that they will have to consider."

But he admitted unpredictable moves on the part of China makes it "presumptuous" for him to express his thoughts on what he believes China would or would not do, saying he is "hard-pressed to answer on their behalf."

Aquino expressed confidence it will stand scrutiny, saying the government worked on fine-tuning it throughout the process to ensure "it adheres completely with the Constitution."

"So will it stand scrutiny? Yes. Will there be people who will try to derail it? Yes, also. But we are reasonably confident that anybody looking at it objectively will be able to say that we have met all the stipulations in the Constitution," he said.